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Presidential candidatesBarack Obama

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About Obama

Born: August 4, 1961

Birthplace: Hawaii

Current home: Washington, D.C.

Education: Columbia University in 1983, law degree from Harvard Law School in 1991

Current job: President of the United States

Resume highlights: Barack Obama was the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review in 1991. He delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, helped pass major measures that combat the international trafficking of nuclear weapons, promoted the use of alternative fuels, and opened up the budget process to greater public scrutiny.

In the Illinois state Senate, Obama passed major ethics and lobbying reforms, cut taxes for working families, and expanded health care for children and their parents.

He was elected the 44th president of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in to office on January 20, 2009.

In office, he pushed through creation of a universal health care system, approved an auto industry bailout, approved the military raid that killed Osama bin Laden, and pushed for a coalition air cap that preceded the ouster of Libyan President Moammar Khadafy.

He has been dogged, though, but a slow economic recovery.

Elective offices: President of the United States, seven years in the Illinois State Senate, one term in the US Senate

Family: Wife Michelle; daughters Malia and Sasha

Introduction to
Barack Obama

President Obama is trying to become the third president in a row to win back-to-back terms. In 2008, he trounced Republican John McCain both in terms of raw votes and Electoral College votes. In 2012, he faces presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney amid a highly polarized electorate, a slow economic recovery, and with some of his prior supporters complaining about his military engagement in Libya and reversal on the suspected terrorist detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

— Written by Glen Johnson, Boston.com politics editor

Latest coverage of President Obama

  • Biden: Jewish leaders drove gay marriage changes

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Joe Biden is praising Jewish leaders for helping change American attitudes about gay marriage and other issues. (   05/21/2013 9:23 PM )

  • White House: Reporters shouldn't be prosecuted

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama believes journalists shouldn't be prosecuted for doing their jobs, the White House said Tuesday, showing solidarity with First Amendment advocates alarmed by a pair of high-profile federal probes into national security leaks. (   05/21/2013 5:39 PM )

  • Obama pledges help after Oklahoma tornado

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has called Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to express his concern about a monstrous tornado that wreaked havoc in the Oklahoma City suburbs. (   05/20/2013 7:59 PM )

  • Obama, China's Xi to meet in June in California

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) early next month in California. (   05/20/2013 5:39 PM )

  • Sally Ride to get posthumous Medal of Freedom

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will bestow the Medal of Freedom posthumously on Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space. (   05/20/2013 5:36 PM )

Globe updates for Campaign 2012